New Bedford police investigate bizarre abduction in North End

Two men pretending to be police officers abducted a city man today who was on federal probation for drug charges, police said.

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Posted Jan. 24, 2013 at 12:45 PM
Updated Jan 24, 2013 at 6:18 PM

Posted Jan. 24, 2013 at 12:45 PM
Updated Jan 24, 2013 at 6:18 PM

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NEW BEDFORD — A North End man today was taken handcuffed from his living room and driven away in a U-haul by two men that officials say were posing as police officers.

John Sylvia, 30, was on federal probation for drug charges, New Bedford Police said.

Sylvia, formerly of Wareham, was escorted from his home in the Welby Park Estates, 1399 Phillips Road about 10 a.m. He was led to a white U-Haul van that was last seen heading onto Phillips Road, Detective Captain Steven Vicente said.

Two men had earlier spotted the victim’s girlfriend in the parking lot, grabbed her keys and walked her to her apartment, according to Detective Capt. Steven Vicente, head of the Major Crimes Unit.

They found the victim lying on the couch, identified themselves as police officers, handcuffed the man and led him out to the U-Haul van. No gun was shown and the victim did not put up a struggle, he said.

The girlfriend refused to go with the suspects because she had her baby with her, police said.

The suspects are described as two black men who wore dark clothing with the word “POLICE” across the front, police said. They were wearing chain necklaces that may have had police-type badges.

Police said the victim is on probation for cocaine charges out of U.S. District Court and was wearing an ankle bracelet that was not equipped with GPS.

The victim’s girlfriend was not hurt in the incident and was taken to police headquarters for further questioning.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Tyrone Jones at 508-991-6300, ext. 134.